{"id":6834,"date":"2023-04-21T18:49:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T22:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedent.com\/?p=6834"},"modified":"2023-04-21T18:49:19","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T22:49:19","slug":"what-is-the-valsalva-maneuver-how-does-it-relate-to-your-ears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedent.com\/what-is-the-valsalva-maneuver-how-does-it-relate-to-your-ears\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Valsalva Maneuver & How Does It Relate to Your Ears?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Valsalva maneuver is used for a number of reasons. Perhaps most commonly, it is used to equalize air pressure in the middle ears<\/a>. In this post, we review how to perform the Valsalva maneuver, what the research shows about how effective it is and what other uses it has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Perform the Valsalva Maneuver<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Male<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

To perform the Valsalva maneuver, you need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Pinch your nostrils closed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Close your mouth<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Exhale, like you\u2019re trying to inflate a balloon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Continue this for 10 to 15 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    You can perform this maneuver while sitting or lying down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What the Research Shows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A 2019 study<\/a> sought to investigate the therapeutic effect of the Valsalva maneuver on otitis media [middle ear infection] to investigate the outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A total of 39 ears in 32 adult patients that were diagnosed with otitis media with effusion (fluid trapped in the middle ear) were included in the study. Each participant did the Valsalva maneuver multiple times a day for one week and did not receive any other interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The average duration of otitis media in the participants was 30.9 days. The success rate of one week of the Valsalva maneuver was up to 64.1%, and hearing was significantly recovered in the success group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to the researchers, \u201cOne-week Valsalva maneuver seems to be considered as a first line therapeutic modality in otitis media with effusion in adult patients who demonstrate the successful maneuver result on oto-endoscopic examination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other Uses for the Valsalva Maneuver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are two other uses for the Valsalva maneuver:<\/p>\n\n\n\n